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Leinster House 2000

Awarded for the sensitive and skillful handling of a large building volume on a historic and sensitive site, combined with consistency of quality in detailed design and materials.

Client’s CommentThe new accommodation provided by the Leinster House 2000 project has meant that all Oireachtas Members’ offices have been brought within the environs of Leinster House. Previously, many of the offices were large distances from the Dail and Seanad chambers involving having to cross a busy thoroughfare on many occasions during the day. Many T.D’s and Senators were sharing offices.

The inclusion of four Oireachtas Committee Rooms within the new building reflects the increasing volume of work and importance of such committees, and the need to improve the capability of their sessions being televised. The project was given the ‘go-ahead’ by the Government in the late November 1997. Construction of the new project started on site in June 1998. The offices were occupied in early October 2000. The Committee Rooms came into use in early March 2001.

The completion of this project represents a significant addition to the facilities available for the needs of central Government.

Dr. Rory O’Hanlon TD, Leas-Cheann Comhairle Architects CommentsThe new ‘Leinster House 2000’ building is within the precinct of historic buildings that house the Oireachtas and many of the country’s major cultural institutions. Public access to the building form the Kildare Street forecourt is via a reconstructed stone loggia (a belated completion of 19th century plans for Leinster House). Internally, the basement of old Leinster House was refurbished to link into the new building, via an extension of an historic stairwell.

The principal circulation axis within Leinster House which links the Dail and Senate chambers has been extended to provide a link to members offices and committee rooms via a multi-level atrium set against the south wall of the National Library. The considerable volume of the buildings is dug deep into its site. Accommodation is arranged around a series of sunken courts and water garden. The upper levels of the building visible from Leinster Lawn and Merrion Square have been given a gentle curve, which echoes that of the 18th century screen wall below.